Subject Aims

Physics helps you to understand the world around you, and satisfy your curiosity. Studying physics develops your critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Physicists are versatile, which opens a wide range of future careers. 

Subject Topics / Syllabus Content

• Light 
• Sound  
• Waves  
• Electricity  
• Mechanics  
• Modern Physics  

The material covered at Junior Cycle level is further expanded on during Senior Cycle Physics. Typically students would not opt to take Physics unless they had completed Junior Science and had a group grasp of these concepts.  

Skills Required

• Drawing graphs  
• Rearranging formulae  
• Describing experiments 
• Good understanding of mathematical concepts 

Suitable Candidates

• You like problem solving 
• You can accurately recall definitions  
• You enjoy understanding how things work 
• You enjoy drawing graphs 
• You enjoyed physics at JCT level 

Career Opportunities

• Engineering 
• Radiography 
• Physiotherapy  
• Medicine 
• Aviation 
• Geology 
• Meteorology 
• Oceanography 
• Electrical and Electronic areas 
• Astronomy 
• Architecture 
• Computers and all Science courses have a Physics module / core etc. 

Cross Curricular Links

• Maths 
• Chemistry 
• Applied Maths 
• Geography 
• History 

Do you need to study Higher Level Maths to study Physics? 

Students who have a good grasp of Higher Level Maths concepts will find the study of Physics at higher level significantly more manageable. If students are studying Ordinary Level Maths some of the mathematical concepts in Physics will be more difficult.  

Assessment

Physics (like Biology and Chemistry) is a 3 hour written paper.  

• Section A – 4 questions on experiments. Students must complete 3 of these questions. 
• Section B – 8 questions covering theory and experiments. Students must complete 5 questions. ·  

A laboratory notebook must be kept by students in which they record the experiments completed in class.